AT News: The Fly Fishing Show
We had a chance to pop into the Denver Fly Fishing Show over the weekend, which always serves as a true barometer for the state of the sport.
The Fly Fishing Show
I often use the Fly Fishing Show as a bellwether of things to come for the season ahead. This year wasn’t all that different than last year, but I did take notice of a few signs.
It seemed to me that Friday was the older men day (the retired sorts who didn’t have to go to work), and Saturday saw a lot more families, women and younger folks in general. Let’s be honest, the sport of fly fishing is still pretty heavily weighted on a demographic of retirement aged, mostly white males. But I actually thought the Saturday showing was a positive indicator, especially since the weather outside the exhibit hall was 65 and sunny–picture perfect for doing outdoorsy stuff with the family. I hear Super Bowl Sunday was a mixed bag, and not as light in attendance as many anticipated, maybe because the Broncos weren’t in the game.
There were a number of fly shops like Ed’s Fly Shop (from Montrose), Front Range Anglers (Boulder), Telluride Angler (Telluride), the Blue Quill Angler (Evergreen) and also some prominent manufacturers including Orvis, Far Bank, Scott, Winston, Galvan, Hardy, Skwala, Grundéns, Simms, Mayfly Outdoors and others. One company that I thought really knocked it out of the park was Duck Camp. I think Duck Camp and Cling Fishing are pretty hot entities that are going to command a lot of attention in the future.
A bunch of fly rods caught my attention, but the three that stood out (that I haven’t already reviewed) were the completely revamped Orvis Recon, the new Sage Power R8 (a legit powerhouse) and the Sage Arrow, which is an all-arounder at a more moderate price point. Look for some in-depth Flylab analysis and reviews in the near future, but know it’s definitely “game on” when it comes to new product innovation in the fly-fishing industry.
What surprised me a bit was the high number of travel agencies and lodges–especially lodges from South America, but also those from Iceland, Canada, Alaska, the Bahamas and elsewhere. When the U.S. stock market is rocking, as it is now, fly-fishing travel goes off. South America is particularly hot. Untamed Angling set the standard for jungle fishing many years ago, and they made a big impression as always. I can’t remember so many independent lodges in Argentina as I saw last weekend–I’m told that many are spinoffs from the major players from before, as guides build their own repeat clientele and can go lease properties and even water for full effect. Does Argentina in January really look like Montana in July these days? I heard that somewhere.
Good to see my buddy Conway Bowman and his mako shark nuttiness, booking trips at the show. Conway is back to guiding full time, and to this day, the stories I’ve written about fishing with him remain the most “out there” adventures I can remember. Highly recommended, provided you do not get seasick and don’t mind getting your butt kicked by an apex predator that swims 60 miles per hour.
Tons of good books have come out in recent months, and not just the same old how-to/where-to stuff. Publishers are (thankfully) taking some chances and letting talented writers from all different backgrounds showcase their stuff. It’s worth going to the bookstore, or better yet, the fly shop that’s still bright enough to stock good books.
Sad to say, but the biggest “buzz” at the show might have had to do with the whispers that there is very poor snowpack (as of now) throughout much, if not most of the Rocky Mountain West.
Granted, in this part of the world, things can change quickly and we could get buried under 10 feet of powder in the next few weeks. But right now, things look pretty bleak. Might be time to start planning a trip to rivers East, or in the Midwest. Or maybe start tuning up your bass, pike and carp games. Go buy or borrow that watercraft that gets you out on the lake. Because April conditions are happening now in Colorado. Who knows what August will look like…?
Keep your fingers crossed. The industry is largely pointed on a good trajectory, but we need Mother Nature’s help. – Kirk Deeter
Show Buzz and Notable Brands
We had a chance to pop into the Denver Fly Fishing Show over the weekend, which always serves as a true barometer for the state of the sport. In recent years, since the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) has ceased hosting a trade show, the Denver Fly Fishing Show, in particular, has become the de facto industry gathering, and, because it’s a consumer event, you also get to see anglers interact in real time with products and companies, which is informative.
Some brand, media and product trends that stood out…
Women’s fishing apparel is evolving: Soča, a sustainably-designed clothing brand for women, showed up as a promising new entrant to the (mostly) male-dominated fly apparel space–think Wild Rye or Halfdays for the river and flats. Ellie Pitney, one of the founders, said Soča is making “high-quality, well-designed fly-fishing clothing specifically created for women by women. We named our company after the stunning Slovenian river we fell in love with during our inaugural fishing trip. Our mission is to bridge the gap between fashion/trendy and function/mountain rugged for women’s fly fishing apparel.” Check out their style and less kitschy take on river wear.
Fort Collins, CO residents Chris and Randi Freeman of Emerger Fly Fishing are making some stylish waxed canvas side bags ($250) and fly wallets ($60) that are worth checking out. “Our standard of quality comes from the fact that each piece is never touched by more than two sets of hands. That means that attention to detail can be our highest priority as we are intimately familiar with every product that goes out our door. From cutting and sewing the canvas to all of the leatherwork, each piece is crafted as if it were going to be our own. We use materials like waxed canvas, English bridle leather and brass because they are materials that have stood the test of time over decades and decades of use.” The side bags are meticulously crafted (stout, but smooth zippers) and thoughtfully designed (smart net scabbard placement and internal storage pockets), providing anglers a versatile, signature pack in a marketplace of mostly homogeneous choices. With a little intermittent care, the canvas material should also last a while. This is a great (smaller) brand to support.
St. Croix Fly, the iconic fly rod maker from Wisconsin, has introduced a new line of warmwater fly rods, targeting bass and musky anglers. From Zack Dalton, the Director of Fly Sales, “Our species-specific Tannic Series rods are the latest example of our commitment to designing and crafting premium fly rods that elevate performance in targeted pursuits. The Tannic Bass ($695) and Tannic Musky/Pike ($795) series rods leverage every bit of knowledge and technology we’ve garnered over the past 77 years, giving warmwater-predator anglers the upper hand.” The musky rods have been designed to carry heavy sinking lines and large flies; the reel seats (made with “cactus cork” handles) and extended fighting butts also provide anglers ergonomic hand comfort, durability upgrades and fishing versatility (the ability to swim figure-eights, or throw switch casts). The Tannic Bass rods are on our list of warmwater rods to fish this summer during Wisconsin’s Crash–these rods were designed to lift and carry heavier bass lines, while also articulating fly movement with “livelier” tips.
Zack sits down with the Wet Fly Swing podcast to discuss fly rod design, St. Croix’s long family history and growing up in Idaho.
More on packs and river carry from Fishpond: the Stormshadow Chest Pack ($190) is a minimally designed, but highly versatile, chest pack for wading anglers and rowers. Imagined as a single-session pack, the Stormshadow was designed to carry some core gear, stash tools and terminal tackle with tons of lash points, carry phones, key fobs etc. in a fully submersible dry pocket and hold a long-handled net on the back panel. The pack’s modular set-up also allows you to seamlessly integrate the front panel of the pack (after removing the straps) onto Fishpond’s other integrated backpacks. It’s a pretty slick set-up that we’ll be testing this spring. Also notable: some upgrades are coming for Fishpond’s Nomad landing net line-up–we haven’t seen the new iterations yet, but lighter weight, more ergonomic handles, subdued (matte) colors and more durable and lighter net bags are on the horizon.
The crew at Outcast Sporting Gear showed us the OSG Commander ($1,340) single-person raft for skinny-water day trips: the OSG Commander is “ideal for serious anglers who want a compact, portable fishing machine. Its low-profile, kayak-style frameless design tracks easily across lakes and rivers. New enhancements include a wider bow for fin kicking and an IGS-ready stern for anchors or motor mounts. At just 35 pounds, it’s lightweight enough to carry into remote water.” We’ll also be testing the OSG Summit Ultralight Backpacking Float Tube ($370) later this summer in some stillwater situations: “The OSG Summit is purpose-built for adventurous anglers who hike deep into alpine lakes and remote waters. Weighing just under 7 pounds, this minimalist float tube combines portability with reliable performance.” Boats, rafts and float tubes are ever-evolving, but it’s smart to choose a manufacturer with a great rack record and reliable customer service.
The show was largely vibrant, well attended and settling into its well-worn groove. Things that might helps as it evolves: music, more diverse food selection, public lands education, displaying industry verticals (rod makers, travel, apparel, boats) into category-specific areas, allowing the consumer to compare and contrast brands. – Andrew Steketee
The Boat and Small Craft Download
I can remember a time back in the day when you’d go to the Fly Fishing Show and there might be one boat manufacturer, maybe two, on the floor. Boy, has that changed…
At the most recent Denver Fly Fishing Show I counted no less than ten actual manufacturers of floaty things, and close to as many companies making accessories for anglers who get out on those floaty things. Boating got a huge lift from COVID, and I think a lot of those folks stuck as buyers, so companies have really upped their offerings for fishing anglers, and new companies have been born along the way. This boon has been driven by more people wanting to get out on the water (with a boat), ever-increasing technology and changing tastes tied to the multitude of waters folks now realize they can fish (warmwater etc.).
We’ll be following up with more in-depth coverage later this spring, but here are a couple of accessory makers that really stood out: River Guide Gear (over-engineered seats, drain plugs, drift lifts etc.), Super Fly Composites (fly line mats) and Trout Boat Cap’n (row bench, fish ladders). On the actual boating side, there were new and interesting offerings from some of my longtime favorites, Outcast Sporting Gear (check out above), Boulder Boat Works (new rod racks), NRS (smaller rafts), WaterMaster (portable inflatables), as well as well known builders like StealthCraft Boats, Dave Scadden and smaller shops like Croft Craft (custom wooden boats). It’ll also be interesting to see what relative newcomers like Blueridge Boatworks, Abstract Watercraft, and Talon Fishing Company can bring to the market going forward.
A few other brands that stuck out for me were the insanely detailed micro paintings of trout on Oak & Oscar watches by Tim Johnson of Timmy Grip fame. The dude is a full-blown mad genius and absurdly talented artist. Oak & Oscar’s watches are clean, super sexy and backed by a legit fishy crew. They’re not inexpensive, but they’re also not crazy, especially in the rarified air of the watch world, and they feel worth it.
Method Works is still in the early stages of rolling out a full brand line, but after just starting to mess around with their innovative Interflo lumbar system packs, it’s pretty clear they’re onto some smart and versatile designs. Early days, sure, but the thinking is smart, the execution is interesting and we’re genuinely looking forward to putting more miles on their gear.
River Guide Gear (mentioned above) flat-out has crushed the competition with their Line Lathe for re-spooling reels at lodges, fly shops, or anywhere doing high-volume reel lining (more on that soon over at Angling Trade), not to mention their insanely fine machined metal work. From a completely rethought boat drain plug, to a foldable rope seat and the Drift Lift, a legit kickstand for drift boats (finally, a new manufacturer is making these things again), this is the kind of stuff that has to be seen (in person) to be believed.
Lastly, our friend Zack Dalton, Director of Fly Sales at St. Croix, is cooking up a cork wax designed for brand-new rods, straight out of the plastic. The goal? Preserve fresh cork with a rich, good-looking luster and develop a patina you’ll never get from simple use alone. Most modern cork tends to darken quickly, largely because fine sanding dust isn’t fully removed during the manufacturing process. This wax solves that, sealing and protecting the cork while giving it a seriously good finish. Bonus: with a light sanding and a fresh coat, it can also bring decades-old cork back to life. – Tim Romano
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Recent News
Inside Baseball: Brian Bennett, AFFTA Communications Consultant and author of Reel Pure Radio, with some pointed thoughts on the ever-evolving landscape of fishing “trade shows”: ICAST needs fly fishing more than fly fishing needs ICAST. “If you’re a fly-fishing brand, especially one that claims conservation as a core value, the smarter question is not how to help revive a declining legacy trade show, but where your time, money, and presence matter. Increasingly, that answer looks nothing like ICAST and far more like a show like Switchback. A smaller, modern retailer-focused show that is aligned with how specialty outdoor businesses operate now.” It’s worth noting that the editorial piece we ran–Break Out of the Bubble at ICAST–was sponsored content, which means ICAST is speaking for ICAST. Flylab is not a mouthpiece for the event–we’re simply a partner. Yes, it’s true the days of big, convention center trade shows are on the decline, in lieu of more regional and niche events–these provide lower barriers to entry and more specialized focus for targeted “tribes”. What has driven this multi-decade recalibration? Wholesale digital adoption from a B2B integration perspective, i.e. If I’m a busy fly shop owner, I don’t have to expense a show and flights and rooms to gather foundational business information–I can find it online, or through digital channels. Also, there isn’t a single ORG on the face of the planet that is “perfect,” and partnerships are about finding compromise (environmentally) and moving the legislative needle. From that perspective, Flylab founder Kirk Deeter notes, “The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is a viable, financially stable entity, and maintains bipartisan connections and support in Congress. Exhibitors come and go but the fact remains that ICAST is the largest gathering of fishing related businesses in the world, by far, not close. Finding ways to work with them is good business and legislatively important.”
Defend the Boundary Waters–contact your senators about opposing a roundly condemned copper mine and the use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) as a political cudgel. From Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA): “A new effort is underway in Congress to reverse the 20-year mining ban in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. On January 8, 2026, the Interior Department formally noted this initiative, and Representative Pete Stauber introduced HJ Res. 140 on January 12 to advance it using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). We urge you to contact your representatives and ask them to oppose HJ Res. 140.” If you care about this issue (every U.S. hunter, angler and outdoor recreationist should), reach out to your state senators today, to voice your concerns and adamant disapproval. Head to BHA @backcountryhunters or Save the Boundary Waters @savethebwca and plug in to their “take action” centers. You also can call the U.S. Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and leave a thoughtful message.
More on the Blue River: Summit County considers recreation management role at popular Blue River access point to Gold Medal fishing. “The Summit Board of County Commissioners showed support at a Jan. 27 work session for the county taking over recreation management responsibilities at a Blue River access point under the Green Mountain Reservoir. Katherine King, the county’s director of open space and trails, said that while the bureau has concerns about the ‘safety and reliability’ of the site, it is willing to keep it open to the public. County staff recommended the board give them direction to pursue expanding the county’s special use permit for the area so that it would manage recreation at the site.”
Kyle Frost on The Ski Industry’s Climate Reality, and as you would surmise, the downstream effects on mountain fishing resources. “A marginally shorter season is something the industry has learned to manage. In most cases, an unreliable season is something it has not. While mega-corps like Vail and Alterra are able to hedge against variable seasons by pooling resources and revenues and selling season passes ahead of time, this isn’t a viable long-term approach, nor does it work for smaller resorts. Data shows not just a loss of snow days, but an increasing variance around when snow arrives, how long it stays, and whether it aligns with time periods that matter the most from an economic perspective. Businesses, not just the ski industry, operate on predictability. The Christmas and New Year holidays sit at the center of this problem.” This same unpredictability is coming to a western watershed near you…
TrackFly’s 2025 Year-end Industry Review (if you missed it). “To quickly summarize 2025: the first four months were down from the prior year, tracking closely with overall economic indicators across the broader consumer-driven economy. Then from May through September, sell-through strengthened to single-digit growth over prior year. Some economic indicators stabilized during the summer, as talk of tariff wars evolved into ‘tariff agreements.’ Consumer sentiment remained low compared to historical averages, but equity market valuations were returning to historic highs, and many people’s 401k accounts had climbed into record territory…”
Fly-fishing Media
Conway Bowman, the highly-regarded shark captain from San Diego, CA, has a new film out about his love for mako sharks and his father (it’s awesome): MAKO. Also, read our Flylab interview with Conway: “It took me three years to get my first mako, because I figured out you had to fish during certain times of the year, right? Spring and summer are when the makos are here. It was all trial and error. I made a lot of mistakes. Finally, I put the pieces together–it’s spring, summer, fall, at certain water temps, and the fish are a lot closer than 12 miles out. A lot of times, they can be just a few miles offshore…”
The Benefits of Casting with Your Non-Dominant Hand from Lindsay Kocka. Becoming ambidextrous: a great way to keep your fly casting fresh and adaptable is to spend time casting with your “opposite” hand. As Lindsay points out, there are lots of practical reasons for training your off-hand (wind, river positioning, tree limbs etc.), but also, and probably more importantly, the associated “brain benefits.” Great fly-fishing food for thought.
John Dunaway’s epitaph for a lost labrador and The Bird Dog Broken Heart. “Those that had the opportunity to see him work in a duck blind will never forget it and those that do not, just know he put on a talent show. Somewhere along the way I lost count of his retrieves which were over 7,000 at that time. The special ones are etched in my memory, some immortalized in duck mounts on my walls, forever in my heart. It truly changed why I got up to duck hunt so much. I shot less shells, took more photos and lived to see him hold court with such pride in his abilities. When Nixon returned to the blind, he posed for the camera as if modeling was his job. He seriously looked both ways for the camera, puffed his chest up and loved the glory of it.”
From Rolf Nylinder: The Simple Pleasure of Reading the Forest. “I followed forest ecologist Carl Jansson into the taiga of northern Sweden to learn about species–lichens, fungi, birds, plants and the overlooked details of the forest…”
Gear Buzz
We review three trout reels (the Epic Trutta Hubless Fly Reel, the Lamson Purist II fly reel and Sage TROUT 2/3/4 fly reel). Deeter makes the case for the Ross-Coors Light-Trout Unlimited Cimarron LT Fly Reel collaboration. Romano rolls out more Gear “Likes” of 2025. “Every year I try to take a hard look at the gear that actually earns its keep. Not what’s trendy. Not what showed up last week in a PR box. But the stuff I keep reaching for–sometimes for years, sometimes unexpectedly.” Read the full article ($).
SITKA Gear, an industry leader in hunting apparel, has announced its brand footprint is expanding into the fishing category (SITKA Fish): “We approached our all-new line of fishing gear with the same intensity, insight, and intuition we earned through decades of perfecting hunting gear. Engineered for every type of angler, each piece of gear is designed to work in harmony as part of a complete fishing system that knows no bounds. Simply put, it’s built to keep you out there, come rain, shine, hell, or high waters.” We’ll be reviewing waders (CrossCurrent Zip GTX Wader, CrossCurrent GTX Wader), boots (CrossCurrent Wading Boot) and jackets (CAT-5 Jacket, Stormfront Jacket).
Nick Parish of Current Flow State Fly Fishing reports on North Fork Composites’ Golden Ticket blanks. “This week famed rod-maker Gary Loomis (founder and former owner of G.Loomis) announced North Fork Composites, his current rod-making company, is selling a $100 Golden Ticket. The ticket is essentially a Forever Stamp, entitling the bearer to any blank in the NFC arsenal. These blanks ordinarily cost anything from $150-500. ‘This note is motivated by a recent visit by a private equity firm,’ Loomis wrote in the announcement. ‘We were told that the fishing tackle industry is currently in a cycle of consolidation, and we can’t beat them, so we should join them…’” Parish also flags the irony in Gary Loomis’s old company trying to sell consumers on a new $1,700 benchmark for “innovation, precision and on-water performance” with the Asquith Fly Rod Series. We’re not sure consumers will be building a lot of custom fly rods in 2026 (maybe they will be), but a pile of Asquith’s heading out the fly shop door feels even less likely. Consumers tend to be acutely aware of price gouging.
Yellow Dog Flyfishing weighs in on the Patagonia River Salt II Wading Boots. “For the past two years, the Yellow Dog Flyfishing travel team has partnered closely with Patagonia, offering real-world, in-the-field feedback to help refine their newest flats and river wading boot. Our team tested prototypes everywhere from New Zealand to the Seychelles, putting them through the same conditions our traveling anglers face worldwide.”
From Todd Tanner at the School of Trout: Are You Qualified to Judge a Fly Rod? “How, as anglers, can we tell if we’re good enough casters to tell a nice fly rod from a poor one? Is there a way for us to know for sure? Because if not, then we have to rely on a manufacturer’s marketing info, or on another angler’s subjective opinions. Those options are, of course, inherently risky.”
From Hatch magazine: Orvis Launches 3rd Generation Recon Fly Rod Lineup: “Orvis is leaning into its heralded Helios technology as it launches its new Recon line of both fresh and saltwater fly rods this week. The newly designed Recon is reported to be 20 percent stronger than the previous Recon iteration, and is ‘built to be thrown in the back of a truck.’ Made at the company’s Manchester, Vermont, shop, the new Recon will retail just under $700, putting it in a price range more anglers are likely to appreciate. The new Recon, Orvis says, endured 150 days of testing through a variety of environments, all with the idea that the company wanted to engineer an all-season, all-conditions rod that can stand up the rigors of everyday fly casting.”
Flylords tries to explain today’s fly rod prices through the lens of 35+ years of Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation: Are Fly Rods Really More Expensive These Days? “On the whole, fly rods have just kept up with inflation. That’s surprising, and probably a tough pill to swallow for some who think rod companies are just out there price gouging the average angler. I think it shows a legitimate amount of restraint, and a good knowledge of the rod market, to keep making rods at essentially the same profit margin for all these years. Especially given the expanded repair and warranty operations many companies have introduced since 1989.” Yes, the legendary Winston Tom Morgan Favorite, which debuted at $380 in 1989, would cost $1,017 in today’s (2026) dollars. Winston currently sells it for $995. The larger issue is that wages haven’t tracked a similar pattern of growth…
Cool BWO imitation by Sam Wike: The Flying V. “The Flying V could match any of the area’s (Missouri River, MT) major mayfly hatches but Wike created it to specifically match the early season blue-wing olive and March brown emergences, which start in March and run into May. The pattern is easy to tie (bonus), easy to see on the water (double bonus), and still looks very realistic (you got it: triple bonus). That makes it a great tailwater pattern, especially in flat-water stretches where the trout get plenty o’ time to look at a pattern.”
From The Saltwater Edge: stress testing saltwater reels. “In this episode of the Saltwater Edge SWE Lab, we break down IPX ratings, explain why they exist and then put several popular saltwater reels through a true stress test. Each reel is submerged for 30 minutes, sprayed down with a hose and then fully opened to check for water intrusion.”
Fly-fishing Jobs
The American Museum of Fly Fishing: Director of Development (Manchester, VT). “AMFF is now seeking to expand its donor base and deepen engagement with supporters. The new Director of Development will play a key role in strengthening major gifts, annual giving, and other philanthropic initiatives that will be central to ensuring the Museum’s long-term financial health and its ability to continue celebrating and preserving the rich heritage of fly fishing.”
Great Waters Inn: Chef & Manager (Melrose, MT). “More than a chef, bit of a manager. Wonderful opportunity for an entrepreneur that loves country style meals, homestyle cooking. Simple, but delicious food at an authentic Montana Fly Fishing Lodge. Looking to contract out breakfast, lunch and dinner for our lodge; Great Waters Inn here on the Big Hole River.”
Bighorn Trout Shop: Assistant Fly Shop Manager (Fort Smith, MT). “Bighorn Trout Shop is a fly shop and lodge located in Fort Smith, Montana, home to world class fly fishing on the Bighorn River. Bighorn Trout Shop specializes in providing anglers with the finest fly fishing goods, lodging, guide service and meals in the area. We are seeking a dynamic Full Time Seasonal Assistant Fly Shop Manager who has a passion for fly fishing and enjoys outfitting customers for great adventures.”
South Holston River Lodge: Assistant Lodge Manager (Bristol, TN). “The Assistant Lodge Manager at the South Holston River Lodge is an intricate part of our program. We strive for a seamless experience and to exceed expectations at every facet of our operation. Maintaining platinum standards at an all-inclusive fly fishing lodge requires a high level of communication, attention to detail, anticipation, patience and flexibility. Our team manages and tailor fits all aspects of each trip for each guest which includes all meals, beverages, accommodations, and fly fishing needs.”
Buffalo Creek Ranch: Fly Fishing Lodge Team (Rand, CO). “Looking to spend your summer and fall immersed in the Colorado high country? Buffalo Creek Ranch is hiring a motivated couple or partner team to help run our fly-fishing lodge and guest operation for the 2026 season. This is a live-on-site position ideal for adventurous, hard-working couples who love the outdoors, enjoy hosting guests, and thrive in a remote, authentic Western setting.”
Sunrise Fly Shop: Retail Sales Associate (Melrose, MT). “Sunrise Fly Shop is seeking enthusiastic and knowledgeable Retail Sales Associates to join our team for the 2026 season. This is a hands-on, customer-facing role ideal for someone who loves fly fishing, enjoys talking shop, and thrives in a fast-paced, outdoor-oriented retail environment. The ideal candidate brings a strong customer service mindset, a solid foundation in fly fishing, and the ability to juggle retail responsibilities with daily guided trip logistics on the Big Hole River.”
Head to flyfishingjobs.com to search for more listings.
JOB SEEKERS
Our new category where a couple lucky folks will be featured on the Fly Fishing Jobs Newsletter. Get those resumes honed and shoot tim@anglingtrade.com an email with it for a chance to be featured.
Brian Hester recently retired from 30 years as a visual art, high school educator. His world is Fly Fishing and he paints that passion professionally (hookedflyco). Over the last six years he has done many exhibition paintings at F3T events in the Southeast and is working toward his first solo show in 2027. Outside of his exhibition paintings and mural work, he found time to write a novel, She Talks to Fish. It was released through Amazon, September 2024, and a movie script from the novel is being shopped in Hollywood. Brian’s other love is concept design, illustration, prototyping and executing build-outs within the fly-fishing industry. Focus: painting, writing and design opportunities.
Jacob Pengelly is a passionate and dedicated fly-fishing guide, originally from a small ranch in Alberta, Canada. While most kids were occupied with their classroom studies, Jacob was skipping high school (and later college) to chase spooky brown trout in crystal-clear prairie streams, stalk pike and walleye in northern lakes and eventually dive into the adrenaline of saltwater species and international travel. He pursued formal studies in Natural Resource Compliance at Lethbridge College–an environmental science program that deepened his understanding of ecosystems, fisheries management and conservation–alongside Digital Communications and Media, where he earned honors, despite regularly ditching lectures for the rivers and lakes of Alberta and British Columbia. Focus: international lodge and outfitter opportunities.
Music
It’s hard to think about the federal government trying to break the metaphorical back of Minneapolis, without also thinking about the enduring, indomitable, Midwestern spirit of The Replacements, one of the city’s greatest bands besides Hüsker Dü. I think Tommy Stinson said once, “There are no good Replacements live recordings,” which might be true, though For Sale: Live at Maxwell’s 1986 comes close. Worthy songs: I Will Dare, Unsatisfied, Bastards of Young, Answering Machine, Go, Johnny’s Gonna Die. A pull quote from Pitchfork: “If the Replacements story is one of anarchic inebriation gradually giving way to more sobering introspection, then For Sale: Live at Maxwell’s 1986 is like that last college bender before entering the working world. This oft-bootlegged, now greatly enhanced 29-song recording finds the band on the brink of a crucial turning point, mere months after the release of their Sire debut Tim, and a few more before they ousted wild-card guitarist Bob Stinson. Fortuitously captured on a 24-track mobile studio set up at the venerable Hoboken venue, it’s a crisp, broadcast-ready portrait of the moment when the tug-of-war between the Replacements’ split personalities–the perma-blotto garage band vs. the refined rock craftsmen–had escalated into a bloody battle…” – Andrew Steketee
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My favorite part had to be the Fish for Change fundraiser! Great to see y'all at the show.
Thanks Kirk. Minnesotan here who fishes the Wisconsin Crash mentioned in the article. The St Croix bass rods are the wrong rod for the job. For the crash, a 6 or 7 weight saltwater rod will do the job a lot better. You're just casting small baitfish patterns so overweighed lines are counterproductive.